Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to my Halo - Terminator crossover. I am amazed by the amount of feedback I received for my previous chapter. Thank you for the feedback that you have shown; I deeply appreciate it.

For those of you wondering, yes, Linda did make it. She'll have her own part to play soon enough. As for those wanting references to other gaming franchises, I will include a few more as well.

Also, I've been thinking about rewriting the earlier chapters of my Halo - MechWarrior/BattleTech - Mass Effect multicrossover in order to improve the plot and make the beginning parts more consistent with the more recent chapters. If you would like the earlier chapters of my first crossover to be rewritten, let me know in the reviews below.

Also, I am thinking of, in the future, of writing a standalone Mass Effect - MechWarrior/BattleTech crossover, as well as a Destiny - MechWarrior/BattleTech crossover. If you would like to see those two crossovers come up, let me know in the reviews below. I would deeply appreciate it.

As always, leave a review and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Halo or Terminator franchises. They are the respective properties and trademarks of Microsoft Game Studios, 343 Industries, Bungie, Carolo Pictures, Hemdale, Skydance Productions, 20th Century Fox, Lightstorm Entertainment, etc. Any material original to the franchises belongs to their respective developers, producers and publishers. Any material not original to the franchises is of my own invention. I do not own any music listed in each chapter. Any music listed belongs to it's original composers and/or artists.


High Charity

Imprisonment Quarter

20th Age of Reclamation

Tartarus was having some difficulty keeping his temper under control, even as he moved along through the jails. Walking just behind him were two Brutes, all of whom were escorting a Sangehili that was wearing robes, to mark that he was no longer an officer, but not a heretic, his face hidden by the cowl over his head. All around, the various inmates in each prison cell screeched, roared or otherwise chattered angrily at the group as they walked through the facility. The hallway was dark, with low levels of lighting making the purple hued walls appear more of a red color. "How long until we can stop escorting the incompetent," one of the Brutes grumbled, clearly not comfortable with escorting a Sangheili. "It would be easier if we just took a Phantom to the Mausoleum. It would save on time as well."

"Watch your tongue," his companion replied. "The Hierarchs had us come by this way for a reason. You would do well not to question their will. Now silence your voice, as I am not keen on hearing you whine and whimper like a Unggoy fresh off the teat." As he said this, a Jackal began snarling loudly at him as it climbed up onto the bars for it's cell. Irritated, the Brute walked over and smashed his fist against it, a loud metallic CLANG emanating from the bars as they rattled in their position. It had the desired effect, as the Jackal was promptly thrown off the bars, with the offending T'Vao tumbling into the others.

The other Jiralhanae was about to growl when Tartarus grunted. "Silence yourself," he growled. "You would do well to listen to your fellow Brute."

"Chieftain, if I may," the second one asked, "why are we escorting the incompetent like this? I do not wish to sound imprudent, or foolish; I merely wish to understand why we are doing this. I know that the Sangheili we are escorting is not a heretic, as he does not bear the mark, but he wears the cloak of those that have proven incompetent."

While his temper was still flaring, Tartarus held it back, as the questions his subordinate asked were legitimate ones, with no trace of contempt or arrogance. Looking at him as he reached the doors, he said, "Those are good questions, and good questions demand wise answers. He is not meant for the jails, young one. The Hierarchs have something far more worthy in mind for the incompetent than the squalor of imprisonment." As he said this, he pressed a few holographic icons, with the doors opening up moments later.

A few minutes later, they were standing on a platform that overlooked a tall, cylindrical building that was located inside another part of High Charity. The structure was separate from the rest of the area, save for it's foundation, as well as an avenue that led directly to the building. The structure was the same purple hue that was ubiquitous for most of High Charity. A single, anti-gravity lift was located at the center of the platform, which Tartarus and the others stepped on moments later. After a slight vibration, the lift traveled down to the lower level, where it neatly fit into a circular hole in the platform below.

Up ahead was the entrance to the building that was their destination. Standing in a single file row, facing each other, were Sangheili Honor Guards, the members of the Covenant that were charged with the protection and defense of the Hierarchs, the leaders of the Covenant. Each one was wearing highly ornate armor that was red and gold in color, a fitting color for their status as the protectors of the Hierarchs. Their position was not ceremonial, however, as they were not only highly trained, but well equipped as well. Each one had tall halberds that were sharpened to a razor point, able to carve through lesser materials with ease. If those failed, they had access to the most advanced and sophisticated weaponry available to the Covenant.

It was clear, however, that they were deeply angry, as Tartarus could hear them growling and snarling to themselves. Normally, such behavior would have him bristling slightly, but in this case he remained calm, as he knew this anger wasn't directed at him or his fellow Jiralhanae. Rather, this anger was directed at the heretical Humans, who had recently become far more successful in their attempts to stave off the destruction of their species. Tartarus had learned this just a month after the Fleet Master of the Fleet of Particular Justice was put under house arrest, when a Sangheili High Councilor was assassinated in his own home by his assistant. Tartarus had been the one to deliver the killing blow, only to be surprised when the Sangheili stood up, revealing an skeleton made out of metal, and artificial muscles where there ought to be normal flesh and bone. That had driven home to him what the Humans were now doing: they were creating machines that looked exactly like Sangheili in order to destroy the Covenant's leadership from the inside out.

Once they had dealt with the Sangheili-like machine, the Hierarchs and Sangheili High Councilors had demanded a full investigation into the problem. What Tartarus, his fellow Jiralhanae, and many other Sangheili found was shocking. Hundreds of Sangheili, T'Vao, Unggoy and Jiralhanae had gone missing, replaced by what they realized were machines that looked and behaved just like their victims, even going so far as to having their memories downloaded into each machine. Most of the month had been spent rooting out any of the machines the Humans called 'Terminators,' but even then, it wasn't easy, as any Terminator that was discovered fought with such a ferocity that even the Sangheili, who were the warrior elite of the Covenant, were shocked. Dozens, if not hundreds, of Jiralhanae and Sangheili had fallen in the efforts to destroy each of the Terminators that had infiltrated the Covenant. Even today, it was estimated that there were between 80-120 Terminators that had yet to be discovered. To counter them, full body scanning, blood DNA tests, and intense screening were implemented, though they had yet to reveal who was a legitimate member of the Covenant, and who was a machine masquerading as one of them.

Putting that irritation aside, Tartarus walked up to the doors of the facility and went inside, with his charge coming along behind him. They eventually walked into a large room, where small, ovoid doors were built into the circular interior walls of the building, each one with a holographic icon blinking over them. There were platforms and ramps on the left and right sides of the room, with an ornate, hovering object in the middle that hung over a large hole in the floor. Ramps led upwards, coming to a halt before reaching the object.

The Hierarchs, at least those present, were in here as well. Truth and Mercy were in their personal, anti-gravity units, each one ornately decorated and meticulously cleaned. While their faces were neutral, Tartarus knew that each one was probably contemplating major affairs of state and other, important matters. Coming to a bow, Tartarus said, "Noble Hierarchs, I have brought the incompetent."

"You may leave, Tartarus," Truth replied.

"But, you said-," Tartarus stammered.

"And take your Brutes with you," Truth continued, interrupting the Chieftain.

After a moment, Tartarus turned to the others and motioned for them to come with him. Getting up from their kneeling position, the two Brutes left, while the robed Sangheili remained where he was, not moving a millimeter from his current position. Once they were gone, the Sangheili pulled back the hood on his head. Looking at the now revealed Thel, Truth said, "The Council wanted you stripped of your authority, and demoted to being a mere footsoldier. Ultimately, however, the terms of your punishment are up to me."

"I have already been stripped of pride and glory," Thel replied, his voice low and emotionless, though it carried the shame and guilt that he was feeling.

"Indeed," Truth replied. "Tell me, Thel 'Vadamee, do you know where we are?"

Thel didn't need to look around in order to tell Truth where they were. The moment he had seen the entrance to the building, he knew then and there. "The Mausoleum of the Arbiter," he replied emotionlessly.

"Correct," Truth replied. "This is the final resting place of the Vanguard of the Great Journey. Each Arbiter, created and consumed in times of crisis."

"The Taming of The Hunters," Mercy added, "The Grunt Rebellion, and now the Rise of The Machines. Were it not for the Arbiter, the Covenant would have broken long ago!" In a subconscious gesture, he thumped his fist against the armchair of his anti-grav unit, with the meaty sound echoing in the chamber.

"Even on my hands and knees, I do not belong in their presence," Thel replied quietly.

"Halo's destruction was your error," Truth continued, "and you rightfully bear the blame. However, we know that you are no heretic. The Minister was the true heretic, for breaking our most sacred laws, as well as overriding the matters your people were charged with." A moment later, he pulled up a holographic image of a Sangheili wearing armor that had an industrial appearance. "This Sangheili is also the true face of heresy, one that would shatter our faith."

A moment later, he began playing the recording. "Our Prophets are false," the Elite Heretic in the recording growled. "Open your eyes, brothers. They would use the Halos to bring ruin to us all! The Great Journey is-" A moment later, Truth stopped the recording.

When he heard the voice, Thel realized who it was. "Sesa 'Refumee," he gasped.

"Indeed," Truth replied. "This heretic, and those that follow him, must be silenced."

"Their slander offends all who walk the path," Mercy declared.

Thel couldn't believe his ears. Here he was, stripped of his pride and glory, and the Hierarchs wanted him, of all people, to chase down this heretic. "How can I do so," he asked disbelievingly. "I can no longer command ships, lead troops into battle! How can I bring this heretic to justice when I am no longer able to do what I was once given authority to do so? How can I do this without being a hindrance to the Covenant?!"

"Peace, Thel," Truth replied. "Those are wise questions to ask. You cannot do what you used to, not as you are. But, become the Arbiter, and you shall be set loose against his heresy with our blessing." Moments later, the ornate structure in the center of the room drew close to one of the ramps, opening up to reveal a suit of armor inside. The armor inside was more ornate than the Combat Harness that most Sangheili wore. Instead of geometric armor plates, each plate of armor was sculpted and ornate, as though it had been forged by a blacksmith instead of being manufactured by a machine. The tech suit inside was less ornate, though it's purpose was clear. The helmet was the most ornate part, with mandible guards, a curved front section, as well as a flared back section.

When Thel saw this, he realized what this armor was. It's the armor of the Arbiter, he thought, amazed by what he was seeing. The same armor that Ripa 'Moramee wore during his time as the Arbiter, before the Humans silenced him forever. The same armor that the Warrior Kings of the Sangheili wore before the Covenant. The armor itself was more than just a symbol of the Sangheili's technological prowess and history, it was a symbol of those that, despite being shamed and dishonored, were more than willing to give of themselves to defend the Covenant, even if doing so cost them their lives. Looking at the Hierarchs, Thel asked, "What is to happen should I accept?"

"The tasks you must undertake are perilous, suicidal," Mercy replied. "You will die, like those before you. The Council's lust for justice will be satisfied."

"Should you fall in battle, however," Truth countered, "you will not be forgotten. You will be buried and honored in accordance with your people's traditions, and your name will never be forgotten. You will also come with us on the Great Journey when it commences, and you will be our escort."

With his questions satisfied, Thel walked up to the armor, coming to a stop just before it. Reaching up, he pulled the helmet off of it's stand before looking inside of it. Looking down, he could see not only his own face, but the faces of the Arbiters that had come before him, from the Warrior Kings of the past, to the guardians of the Covenant and the Great Journey. Slipping the helmet on, he turned to the Hierarchs and asked more loudly, "What would you have your Arbiter do?"

. . .

Three Phantoms flew through space as they turned towards the gas giant Halo used to orbit, their Impulse Engines thrumming as they began to enter the atmosphere. Inside, Special Operations Elites and Special Operations Grunts were lined up, with the Elites inside of crash harnesses while the Grunts were standing freely. Walking through the spaces between each of the rows was a tall Sangheili with green eyes, with white Ultra armor on his body. Two mandibles on his face were not present, having been severed during combat.

That, Thel knew, was R'tas 'Vadumee. He'd worked with him many times while he was the Fleet Master of the Fleet of Particular Justice. R'tas had lost his left mandibles when Bero 'Kusovai had severed them under the Flood's control, before the young Elite had overridden the Parasite through sheer force of will. As a result, most Sangheili called him 'The Half-Jaw', a title of respect due to his fight against the Flood.

Currently, he was walking about in the Phantom's troop bay, delivering a speech to his fellow Sangheili. "When we joined the Covenant, we swore an oath," he began.

"According to our station," the other Elites replied. "All according to plan."

"On the blood of our Prophets, on the blood of our ancestors, we swore an oath to uphold the Covenant."

"Even to our dying breath."

"Those that would forsake this oath are Heretics, worthy of neither honor, nor respect."

"We shall grind them into dust."

"And continue our march towards glorious salvation!"

As they said this, the Phantoms began entering the atmosphere of the Gas Giant known to the Covenant as Threshold. The dropship shook and shuddered as high winds buffeted it, with parts of the vehicle rattling and creaking from the stresses being pressed against it. At the same time, on the video monitors, Thel could see a blue glow that rapidly brightened, turning orange-red in the process; the shaking also intensified as well, as the Phantom pushed into Threshold's atmosphere. After two minutes of intense shaking and shuddering, they entered Threshold's atmosphere.

In terms of chemical makeup, he knew that Threshold was your typical gas giant, with one exception. While most gas giants were made up of helium, hydrogen and other gases, Threshold had a layer of oxygen that was wedged between the layers of gas that were not breathable, even for a Sangheili. Inside this layer of oxygen was a gas mine that had been built by the Forerunners, in order to mine the rich gases that lay inside of Threshold. When the Covenant found it, they repurposed it for their own intentions, and had recently assigned Sesa 'Refumee with the task of overseeing it. For some unknown reason, 'Refumee had turned traitor and had taken the facility for himself, which was why Thel was here to bring him to justice for his heresy.

As he mulled over this information, he heard footsteps coming up to him. When he looked up, he watched R'tas approach him, his white armor glinting in the lights of the Phantom's Troop Bay. Looking at Thel, he said, "This armor suits you, but it cannot hide that shame."

"Nothing ever will," Thel replied, visibly ashamed of his position.

"I know how you feel," R'tas replied. "It was a series of unfortunate events that conspired to bring you into this state. Most would be angry with you, Arbiter, but know that I do not hold any ill will towards you. You did your duty, even though it put you into this state. Just remember, these are my Sangheili Warriors. Their lives matter to me, and while yours does as well, I will not hesitate to sacrifice you to save my men or to complete the mission."

"That makes two of us," Thel replied. R'tas merely huffed in agreement before walking away. As he did so, the Phantom was buffeted by winds, but these were stronger than normal. Looking at a video feed, Thel saw the reason why: there was a large, dark spot in the sky that was approaching their position, and it looked uncomfortably like a large whirlpool. He knew the Humans used the term 'hurricane' to describe such a weather formation, and on gas giants, these were usually thousands of kilometers in size. The real danger wasn't just it's size, it was also the wind, as such behemoths could send winds traveling at hundreds of kilometers an hour through the area, blowing away anything that wasn't solidly anchored down. Through the howling wind and clouds, he spotted the facility the Heretics had taken for themselves

The Forerunner Gas Mine was shaped like a three pronged star, which each prong being a whole subsection of the facility itself. The center portion of the facility dominated the structure, with a single, long cable reaching upwards. Said cable attached to a part of Halo that was hovering over this part of the gas giant, preventing the installation from falling. Interspersed between the cables were large, flexible pipes that transported refined gas up to parts of another Forerunner structure hovering in the air. Moments later, a lightning bolt struck the facility, with the long electrical arc hitting what appeared to be a lightning rod. "Leader, there is no doubt. The storm will strike the facility," a Phantom pilot reported.

"We'll be long gone before it arrives," R'tas said reassuringly. Drawing in towards one of the arms, the Phantoms came to a hover over the exterior, before disgorging the troops onto the ground via a gravity lift. "Warriors, prepare yourselves for combat," he ordered. Dropping onto the ground behind the squad, Thel activated his Energy Sword before heading forwards. As the Phantoms retreated, he heard R'tas over the COM. "You are the arms, Arbiter, and we are the blade. Be silent and swift, and we shall have this heresy quelled without incident. The storm has masked our approach, and their local Battle Net is in disarray. We have the element of surprise… for now."

Following his fellow Warriors down a ramp, he quickly came to a lower platform built into the arm they were standing on. The wind continued to blow and howl, though it abated somewhat now that they were under a semblance of shelter. A Spec Ops Sangheili was working at a nearby console, using his technical skills to hack into the door and get inside. Moments later, the door opened, allowing the troops to get inside. Walking inside, Thel felt his earholes pop as the airlock pressurized, cleansing the air of any hydrogen or helium that had gotten inside. "Engage active camouflage," another Sangheili ordered. "Reveal yourselves only after the Arbiter has joined battle with the enemy." Moments later, each of the Spec Ops Sangheili and Grunts faded into transparency.

Thel was about to do the same when R'tas said, "You may wish to do the same, Arbiter, but take heed. Your armor is not as… new as ours. Your camouflage will not last forever."

Noted, Thel thought. As soon as the door began to open, he activated his own camouflage, allowing him to enter without drawing suspicion. The interior of the room they were in was occupied by two, rectangular blocks in the center, with ramps on either side leading up to a balcony. Heretic Elites were milling about, while a few Grunts that had joined them were getting some rest.

Moving swiftly, Thel stabbed a Heretic in the neck with a Plasma Dagger, before quickly moving to reach the others before they could sound the alarm. Finding another Heretic, Thel killed that one by wrenching the Heretic's neck to the left, a muffled CRACK echoing in the air. The Heretic promptly fell to the ground, his head at an unnatural angle. Getting down below again, Thel's active camouflage deactivated, with his body abruptly becoming opaque once again. "Excellent work," a Sangheili remarked. Waiting for a few moments, Thel engaged his active camouflage once again, allowing him to silence another Elite Heretic. Looking beyond the balcony, he found that he had entered the Heretic equivalent of a gas transportation line, as cylinders of energy moved up and down energy conveyors lines. More Heretics were present, each one unaware of the events that had transpired just a few seconds ago.

That was when he heard something: a quiet sniffling sound. Turning around, he noticed that one of the Spec Ops Grunts was doing his best not to sneeze; apparently, his nose had gotten irritated by something in the air, and now the poor creature was doing his best not to give away their position. Before Thel or the others could react, the Grunt let out a surprisingly loud, "ACHOOO!" When that happened, everyone went as silent as they could, with Thel activating his armor's Camouflage while the others held still. Fortunately, the Heretic Grunts and Heretic Elites either didn't hear the sound, or simply disregarded it, as they continued their business as though nothing had happened. The still invisible Grunt used his internal COM, saying, "Sorry."

Relieved, Thel was about to continue forwards when he heard a Heretic Elite calling to his companion over the COM, who was one of the Elites that had been killed. Taking cover, Thel allowed his Active Camouflage to recover, which also prevented the Heretic from seeing him as he went to investigate what was happening. Moving along silently, Thel crept forwards and lunged just as the Heretic found his dead comrade. The Heretic Elite's roars were muffled as Thel pressed his fist into the Heretic's throat, before stabbing him in the neck with his Plasma Dagger. After a few seconds, the Heretic went still, with Thel lowering him to the ground moments later. Fortunately, that was the last Elite in the area, and dealing with the Grunts was a simple task. With that decided, they continued onward.

Moving on, they found that the downward slopping lift led down to a large hole, which had a pair of ramps that met in the middle to split the hole in two. This walkway led into a room that had an elevator shaft in the middle, with cargo containers on either side of the elevator shaft. That's odd, Thel thought as he looked at the cargo crates. These crates are much more angular than most, and they aren't made of the same materials that we make use of. What are these? The Sangheili around him were also just as intrigued, as this was unprecedented for what was going on.

A few of the Grunts, however, were quite curious, as two of them waddled up to one of the crates, which was higher than they could reach. Working together, one of the Grunts stepped up onto the shoulders of the other, allowing it to grab the cargo crate and start pulling. The first time had little effect, but the second time was too successful, as the Grunt unintentionally pulled the crate out too far. The further end swung down and out, smashing into the face of the first Grunt, causing them both to tumble to the ground. The crate also clattered to the ground loudly, with the lid coming ajar in the process. "Ouch," the first Grunt groaned, rubbing his breather mask. "Be more careful."

"Sorry," the other replied.

While this was going on, Thel walked over to the crate they had dislodged. Moving it over slightly, he pulled the lid off to see the contents inside. To his surprise, the crate held weapons, which closely resembled the new energy weapons that the Humans were using, with the main difference being a modified trigger guard, pistol grip and forearm to account for Sangheili anatomy. The most shocking evidence of all however, were a pair of symbols on the inside of the crate. The first one was that of a diamond with a circular symbol inside, which he realized was the symbol of ONI, the UNSC's intelligence gathering branch. The other one, however, were five triangles, each one arranged to form a single, much larger triangle.

When he saw this, he immediately realized who was supplying the Heretics. ONI, he growled. The Humans are giving the Heretics their weaponry! In addition, he knew that the second symbol was the symbol of SKYNET, which he learned was a Defense Intelligence that the UNSC had created, using a revolutionary new type of quantum computer. He had particular experience with SKYNET, most notably the automated war machines that the AI created in order to help Humanity survive. They were responsible for keeping us from destroying the planet they call 'Reach,' he thought. If this SKYNET is supplying the Heretics, then we are in for a very difficult battle. Keying his Combat Harness' COM, he said, "R'tas, do you read me?"

"I hear you, Arbiter," R'tas replied. "What is it? You sound concerned."

"I am. The Heretics are being aided by the Humans in their fight against us. They are using equipment developed by SKYNET, particularly phased plasma weaponry."

"By the Prophets," R'tas quietly swore. There was some silence on the other end, with Thel realizing that R'tas was probably pacing around, considering what they had to do. A moment later, he asked, "Are the weapons gene-locked? The Human's new AI designed specific safeguards to prevent us from using their weaponry."

"Hold on," Thel replied. Pulling one of the weapons out, he loaded a Fusion Mag into the appropriate slot before aiming and pulling the trigger. To his surprise, purple-white bolts of phased plasma tore out of the muzzle of the weapon, with small pits and craters forming in the walls when the plasma impacted. "They are not," he reported.

"Use them then," R'tas replied. "I know that some might have concerns about using Heretic equipment, but in this case, their weaponry is more advanced than our own, though it pains me to say that. Their shields are also stronger than our own, so if you find their weaponry and any shield generators, use them as well. You will be thankful for my advice once this mission is over."

"Understood," Thel replied. Looking at the others, he said, "Pull out any crates you find and scavenge them. The Humans are supplying the Heretics with their weaponry. We will turn their own weapons against them."

"Arbiter," another Sangheili asked, "why should we do this? Isn't it dishonorable to use the weapons of our enemy?"

"Normally, it would be," Thel replied, "but in this case, we must. The Humans weaponry is more advanced than our own, as are their shield generators and Combat Harnesses. If we are to survive we, like the Sangheili of old, must adapt and change. Not doing so will result in our deaths." While a few Sangheili looked like they were going to protest, the others nodded, agreeing with his wise words. With some hesitance, they took the SKYNET manufactured equipment and installed it into their own. Once they had done so, they quickly found the entrance to the elevator and stepped inside.

As soon as they did, the elevator began to descend, as it had automatically detected them and began moving to their destination. Moments later, part of the elevator shaft became transparent, allowing them to see what was beyond their position. The elevator was moving down into what appeared to be a hangar bay, as Thel could see a Seraph fighter that was hovering in the room. Walkways were present on either side, with reinforcing beams located at regular intervals, while the elevator was descending to a platform that the walkways connected to. Ramps in the area led down to a lower level, were there was an anti-gravity generator for the Seraph fighter, as well as doorways. Energy conveyor belts were present here as well, each one moving containers of refined gas to other parts of the facility.

Looking around, he could also see Heretics moving about on the floors, going about their daily business. What caught his attention, however, were Sentinels that were moving about, each one either patrolling the area or carrying more of the crates to other parts of the facility. "Sentinels," one of the Spec Ops Sangheili gasped, "the holy warriors of the sacred rings. Why have they sided with these heretics?"

"I don't know," Thel replied, "and I'm not sure if they will stop and answer our questions. If they attack us, be ready to fight." As soon as he said this, they came to a stop, with the doors at the bottom opening to allow them to step out.

As soon as they did, all hell broke loose. One Heretic Elite, who was patrolling the area, turned and spotted Thel, eyes widening as he did so. "It's the Arbiter," he shouted. "The Covenant have broken inside! Kill the intruders!"

"Engage," Thel roared, with the other Sangheili charging out into the open as well. Ducking into cover, he narrowly dodged being hit with a plasma bolt, with the round so hot he felt it through his tech suit. Popping out of cover, he fired off a few plasma bolts, hitting a pair of Heretic Elites in the process. To his surprise, the rounds bounced off of what he realized were SKYNET designed energy shields. Holding down the firing stud, he continued to fire his weapon, killing the Heretic Elites before they could get into cover.

All around him, the other Sangheili were fighting back as well. A Spec Ops Sangheili shimmered into nonexistence, before becoming visible right next to a Heretic Elite. Said Heretic had no time to react, before an Energy Sword plunged into his gut, with the Heretic screaming loudly as he died. Another Spec Ops Sangheili tossed a few plasma grenades, with each one sticking to their targets before detonating.

As the fighting wore on, Thel spotted a pair of Heretic Grunts that were moving a cargo crate to a nearby doorway. Firing on them, he quickly terminated them, before moving through the area in a dead sprint. As he did so, he tripped on something on the ground, with the Arbiter face planting into the ground before crashing into the crate, sending him and the crate behind cover. Ouch, he thought as he shook away his disorientation, before pulling the crate open to see what was inside. He smiled when he saw SKYNET designed shield generators, before quickly pulling out out and integrating it into his armor, an easy task given that Sangheili Combat Harnesses were designed to be modular. Popping out of cover when he was finished, he fired on the remaining Heretics, silencing them quickly.

It was a good fight, but it wasn't a one sided one. Looking around, he spotted a few Sangheili that had been killed during the fighting, their mouths open in a silent scream of pain and rage. His musings were interrupted when the Phantom's pilot contacted him over the COM. "Arbiter, open the hangar, so that we can land troops," Running over to the doors, he pressed the opening icon, with the doors opening moments later. "Hold position. I'm on my way." A minute later, the Phantom came inside, offloading troops a moment later. As soon as they did so, a door just beneath the area where the elevator had come down at opened, disgorging more Heretic forces. The firefight was short, but intense, with the Sangheili hurling every bit of firepower they had at the Heretics.

Now that they were on a more even playing field, they began to proceed down into the internal structure of the Gas Mine itself. Walking inside, Thel began to walk down a long hallway that was lit by floor lights at the edges of the walls. Moving quickly, but silently, he continued onward, silently neutralizing any Heretic forces that were in his path. Behind him, the other Sangheili continued to follow him, doing their best to remain silent all the while.

Eventually, they passed through another series of hallways into what appeared to be an inspection room, as dozens of the energy containers were present, with more passing through various scanners and sensor suites in the area. More Heretic forces were present, with many armed with rifles and PDW's. Moving up, he ducked down behind a half wall, firing his weapon blindly over the top before taking a look. Spotting some more Heretics, he opened fire, killing a couple with his stolen rifle. Spotting a nearby container, Thel took aim and fired, pelting the energy container with plasma fire.

The hydrogen gas inside of the plasma container exploded violently, sending shrapnel and a powerful shockwave through the area. It had the intended effect, as the nearby Heretics were gunned down. "Keep moving up," he shouted to the up, they continued to kill any Heretic forces they had come across. Now that surprise was no longer an option, they moved through the hallways of the facility, killing any Heretics they came across. While the Heretics were clearly outmatched, Thel knew his own forces were suffering casualties, as a Grunt and Elite fell to the ground, their bodies cooked from the inside out by the plasma fired at them.

It wasn't long, however, before he encountered his own Terminator. Moving through a large room that curved to the right, Thel was about to move through a door when a fist smashed into his armor, sending him flying backwards and into a wall. As he recovered from the blow, he heard a Sangheili voice say, "Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee. Marked for Termination." Looking up, he saw a Heretic Elite walking into the room, seemingly unbothered by the fact that he was outnumbered. Rolling to the right, Thel fired on the Heretic, with the others concentrating fire as well.

The Heretic Elite, for lack of a better word, moved. Thel watched as the Heretic crossed the distance between it and the others in seconds, before killing a Sangheili with a powerful blow to the head. The others continued to fire, while backing up in the process. Getting up, he drew his Energy Sword before rushing forwards, jumping into the air before plunging the weapon into the Heretic's back. The Heretic didn't roar with pain as he expected; instead, it reached behind itself, grabbed him and hurled him forwards, but not before Thel planted a plasma grenade inside of it's chassis.

As soon as he hit the ground, there was a powerful explosion as the plasma grenade detonated. The Heretic Elite immediately fell to the ground, seemingly dead, as it was bisected at the waist. Thel's eyes widened, however, when he saw metal and synthetic materials in lieu of flesh and blood. Acting fast, he plunged his Energy Sword through the machine's head, destroying it's processing unit in the process. "By the Prophets," he gasped, "a Terminator!"

"This is an ill omen," another Sangheili growled. "The Heretics are using machines against us as well! What cowards allow a machine to fight their battles for them?!"

"The kind that have nothing to lose," Thel replied. Looking around, he said, "We must proceed forwards. If I were the Heretic's leader, I would be in the chamber up ahead. Let's go." With that, they proceeded forwards, intent on getting to their objective. Eventually, they came through a door into what appeared to be an observation room. Thick, transparent metal was framed by more Forerunner alloy, with ramps on either side of the room leading to doors on the upper level. A pair of Banshees were visible outside of the observation room, with a pair of Heretic Elites guarding each vehicle, as if they were waiting for someone.

Moments later, that someone came into view. Thel immediately recognized Sesa 'Refumee, from the armor he wore, to the way he carried himself. Looking at the Heretic Elite, Thel watched as 'Refumee looked into the room he and the others were in; if the Heretic showed any arrogance or anger, he hid it well, as no emotion crossed his face when he said, "Deal with the Arbiter, my brothers. I will defend the Oracle."

"It's truth must not be silenced," another declared. As soon as the two said this, they proceeded to the doors on either side of the area. Weapons at the ready, Thel and the others opened fire as soon as the Heretics came through the door. Firing his weapon, he was about to fire at another Heretic Elite when suddenly, an Energy Sword plunged into the Heretic Elite's back, with the tips coming out of his chest. The Heretic Elite gasped from the pain as he stumbled onto his knees. Behind him was another Heretic Elite, but Thel noticed that this one had nothing but contempt on it' s face. A moment later, the Heretic withdrew his blade before slashing horizontally, cutting off the Heretic's head.

Raising his weapon, Thel was about to fire when the Heretic said, "Don't shoot, it's me!"

The moment Thel heard the Heretic Elite's voice, he thought he recognized him. "Bero," he asked. "Why…?"

"Do I look like one of them," Bero replied. "That's a question that I've only recently found the answer to." Moments later, Thel watched as Bero's body began to warp and bend. A pair of horns grew out of the back of Bero's head, while spines grew out of his back, with each one attached to ligaments and muscles. His fingers morphed into talons, while bone spurs grew out of his elbows. His two front teeth elongated into fangs, while his neck thickened, indicating the presence of venom glands. In addition, his muscles bulged and grew denser, while his bones became harder and stronger. At the same time, the armor on his body morphed as well, indicating that it was an extension of Bero's flesh. Moments later, Bero looked exactly the way he did during the tribunal on High Charity, only he looked exactly like an Zealot version of himself.

"Amazing," Thel gasped, surprised by what he was seeing. "How is this possible?"

"The Oracle in the facility was able to tell me how," Bero replied, as he calmly began to search for a hidden alcove in the room. "According to the Oracle, the Flood infection altered my flesh on a genetic level, changing my cells into what it calls 'Super Cells.' Think if it as 'thinking muscle' that can be altered and changed, and you have a good idea of what it's capable of. As a result of my infection, I gained the ability to shape-shift; the ability to bend and mold my flesh, blood and bone into any form that I wish to become." A moment later, he found the hidden alcove he was looking forwards, with the armor he was wearing changing into normal Sangheili skin as he put on his real Zealot armor.

"I see," Thel observed. "How does it feel… if I may ask?"

Turning towards him, Bero walked over and said quietly, "Between you and me, Arbiter… I'm afraid of what I've become. That should suffice." Backing up, he said, "The Heretic Leader intends to fleet to a part of the facility that I know of. If you follow me in one of the Banshees that are present here, then I will lead you to him. Have the others follow in the Phantom."

"A sound plan," Thel replied. "Just one question remains: why are you here?"

"The Hierarchs sent me here to spy on the Heretic Leader," Bero explained. "It was just before I arrived that I discovered my ability to shape-shift. I shape-shifted into a Heretic Elite that I had seen earlier, altering my appearance so that I looked similar, but not identical to him. Since then, I have been spying on the Heretics, sending back information that led to the mission we are conducting today."

"I see," Thel replied. Looking at the others, he said. "Move to where the Banshees are at. The Zealot and I will take them while the Phantom will come to retrieve you and the others." Nodding in agreement, the team moved outside, where Bero and Thel manned the Banshees and began flying.

"Follow me," Bero replied. "I created a diversion on the other side of the facility. We should be able to arrive at the place the Heretic Leader fled to just seconds earlier." Following Bero's advice, Thel began to follow the younger Sangheili, while the others followed in the Phantom. True to Bero's word, the diversion he created had drawn away the other Heretics, leaving only a skeleton crew behind. Flying along, Thel noticed that the Heretic Leader had fled to one of the subsections. Only a few defenders were there, and they were easy to deal with. Landing the Banshee, he got out just as Bero did the same, while the others arrived as well.

Moving towards the door, a pair of Sangheili Minors opened it up, scanning the area for any hostiles. When none presented themselves, the others moved in. R'tas, who had just gotten out of the Phantom, began to walk forwards when he noticed it: a strong, sickly sweet stench that filled the air. A few sniffs confirmed what he was fearing. "What is it," Thel asked.

"That stench," R'tas replied. "I've smelt it before." When Thel smelled the air, he immediately realized what it was: The Flood.